The Hobart Hurricanes' WBBL title defence is hanging by a thread after the Brisbane Heat inflicted a fourth successive defeat on the reigning champions at Allan Border Field on Saturday night.
Still searching for their first victory of WBBL|12, the Hurricanes suffered a four-wicket loss which leaves them with precious little room for error if they are to keep their finals hopes alive.
Without captain and leading run-scorer Nicola Carey – who remained in Hobart following the birth of her first child Louis with partner Elyse Villani – the Hurricanes struggled to build any momentum with the bat after being sent in by the hosts.
Young Heat seamer Lily Bassingthwaighte (3-16) did the early damage, removing Lizelle Lee and Chamari Athapaththu with consecutive deliveries in her opening over before adding Hurricanes debutant Kate Pelle in her second.
At 3-13 by the end of the powerplay, the visitors were immediately on the back foot and facing an uphill battle to post a competitive total.
Rachel Trenaman (25), stand-in skipper Heather Graham (21) and Maddy Green (24) did their best to revive the innings, but the Heat maintained their stranglehold as Hobart limped to 9-116 from its 20 overs.
Despite the modest target, the Hurricanes refused to surrender without a fight and again threatened to produce an unlikely victory through a spirited bowling performance.
Grace Harris threatened to make short work of the chase with a blistering 24 from just 16 deliveries, before young leg-spinner Isa Malgioglio produced a superb delivery to claim her maiden WBBL wicket.
The ball drifted under Harris' bat and crashed into the stumps, providing a memorable moment for Malgioglio and a much-needed breakthrough for the visitors.
Graham (2-20) again led from the front with the ball, while Lauren Smith marked her 150th WBBL appearance with an economical spell of 1-13 and played a key role in dragging the Hurricanes back into the contest.
Smith ran out Georgia Redmayne before trapping Yastika Bhatia (22) LBW either side of the drinks break, suddenly injecting some nerves into the Heat dugout.
With Brisbane reduced to 5-81 in the 13th over, the Hurricanes had given themselves a genuine opportunity to pull off a remarkable comeback.
However, a costly missed chance proved decisive when Pelle dropped Annie O'Neil at mid-wicket off Malgioglio, with the Heat batter on just five at the time.
O'Neil made the visitors pay, compiling an unbeaten 32 to guide Brisbane to victory in the 19th over and condemn Hobart to another frustrating defeat.
The Hurricanes will now return home desperate to arrest their losing streak when they host the Adelaide Strikers at Ninja Stadium on Tuesday night.